BY JOSHUA KAGORO
The National Consultative Forum (NCF) for political parties and organisations in collaboration with the Uganda Human Rights Commission and electoral commission have resolved to form a joint task force to sensitize the Public about human rights during elections.
This was disclosed during the national consultative meeting with between UHRC and the National Consultative Forum in Kampala.
In Uganda every electoral season is characterized by widespread violence and human rights violations which include arrests, beatings of opposition supporters and journalists, disruption of opposition rallies, and a shutdown of the internet.
Sadam Gayira, the chairman of the People's Progressive Party says much as most of the violence inflicted on Ugandans is perpetrated by security officers as they enforce the law, selfish candidates also hire goons to beat their opponents.
"Most of the violence inflicted on people is perpetrated by security, police tear gas even places with innocent people and sometimes arrest non-violent voters. We have seen security forces beating journalists covering elections even in their press jackets. However, there are leaders who instigate violence for selfish interests, they but goons to beat and intimidate our opponents," Gayira said.
Crispin Kaheru, a commissioner at UHRC is optimistic that election violence, commercialisation of voters and gender stereotypes during elections can be tackled by countrywide collective civil education.
"All these raising issues of election violence, gender stereotypes and Commercialization of politics need collective effort for civil education, we can collaborate and raise awareness to address challenges that afflict elections," Kaheru said.
In a bid to adddress the shrinking civil space, the Uganda human rights commission will lead a campaign to train stakeholders like security officers, journalists and the electorate on how to cover and participate in elections.